Guidance on detecting, recording and reporting suspicious transactions for controlled substances and precursors (CS-GD-025): Overview
You must report suspicious transactions for controlled substances. The requirement to report suspicious for precursors comes into force June 17, 2026.
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Scope
This guidance document applies to all licensed dealers and registered dealers who conduct regulated activities involving controlled substances and/or chemical precursors under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and its regulations.
Purpose
Health Canada fulfills its international obligations by managing and monitoring the movement of controlled substances and precursors into and out of Canada.
To prevent the diversion of controlled substances and precursors to illegal markets or uses, licensed dealers and/or registered dealers must have a system in place to detect, record, and report suspicious transactions to the Office of Controlled Substances.
This guidance document outlines the requirements for detecting, recording and reporting suspicious transactions involving controlled substances and precursors.
Regulatory requirements
Licensed dealers and registered dealers must establish and maintain a system in place to detect, record and report suspicious transactions to the Office of Controlled Substances.
Suspicious transactions must be reported using the Suspicious transaction report form for controlled substances and precursors (CS-FRM-093) in accordance with the following regulations under the CDSA:
- Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR)
- Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations (BOTSR)
- Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR-G and FDR-J)
- Precursor Control Regulations (PCR)
Note about guidance documents in general
Guidance documents are meant to assist industry and health care professionals on how to comply with governing statutes and regulations. They also support Health Canada staff in the administering the legislation in a fair, consistent, and effective manner.
Guidance documents are administrative instruments and do not have the force of law. As such, they allow for flexibility in approach. Alternate approaches to the principles and practices described in this document may be acceptable, provided they are supported by adequate justification.
Any alternate approaches should be discussed in advance with the relevant program area to avoid the risk of non-compliance with applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.